Embark readies further funding worth €4m

18 Sep 2006

Funds totalling €4m are to be offered to 57 science, technology and engineering researchers under the Embark Initiative.

The scheme is operated by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) and is the second call under its Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme 2006. The initiative will support doctoral- and masters-level researchers in science, engineering and technology.

IRCSET has allocated €4m to support the researchers over three years, which is typically how long individual awards last. Through the first call for applications to the 2006 programme, €11.6m has been offered to 162 young researchers who are to begin their research work at Irish institutions from next month.

All students graduating with higher honours in science, engineering and technology are entitled to apply for funding. The student’s academic record, research preparation and a personal statement are taken into account when the group decides to allocate funding.

As well as the Embark Initiative offers, the call also includes provision for scholarships co-funded by industry under IRCSET’s new Enterprise Partnership Scheme initiative. These will be rolling awards and as such the funding offers are due to be announced in the coming weeks.

Martin Hynes, director of the council, commented: “The Embark Initiative is encouraged to see that the quality of applicants is so high. This year, in order to widen the breadth of candidates a number of changes were made to the scholarship call, including a provision for candidates from non-EU member states. As a result, Embark is delighted to be offering 17 scholarships to successful non-EU candidates for the first time. This new development reflects the growth in interest in pursuing research as a career on a worldwide basis and the high standard of research opportunities in Ireland.”